bite your tongue
Hold it in
To bite your tongue is to stop yourself from saying something you want to say, usually to avoid conflict or giving offense: I had to bite my tongue when she criticized my cooking.
The image is of physically restraining speech.
As an imperative, bite your tongue! tells someone to keep quiet or take back what they just said.
- hold backPrevent forward movement
- silenceTotal lack of sound
- keep quietRemain silent
- zip itCommand to stop speaking
- restrainLimit freedom of movement
swallow · words · unsaid · lips · hush · suppress · think twice · count to ten · regret · sharp · sharp words · taste · blood · pain · self-control · inner voice · awkward · social grace
- body idiomsheart of gold, heart of stone, cold heart, warm heart, soft heart
- hush commandsshh, shhh, ssh, hush up, be silent
- tonguetip, root, blade, dorsum, frenulum
- anger expressionssee red, seeing red, blow a fuse, blow a gasket, hit the roof
- calming phrasesstay calm, calm down, relax, take it easy, easy does it
- scoldingscold, scolding, rebuke, berate, reprimand
bite your tonguespeak your mind
State honest opinions openly
speak up · speak freely · speak out · let it out · sound off
bite your tonguefly off the handle
Lose temper suddenly
lose your temper · lash out · blow up · let loose · explode
bite your tonguespeak truth to power
Criticize those in charge
tell it like it is · not mince words · lay it on the line · pull no punches · call a spade a spade
bite, bites, bitten, biting, biter, your, yours, yourself, yourselves